Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief, expressed his support for the Iranian people in calling for the downfall of Iran’s theocratic regime at the Paris-based rally “Free Iran” on Saturday.

Al Faisal reflected on the history of friendship and cooperation between Arabs and the Iranians as he spoke before a gathering of more than 100,000 Iranian opposition activists. He also underlined the religious, cultural and language aspects they share even now.

Al Faisal voiced his support for the Iranian people in efforts to remove what he called the the “legitimate struggle against Khomeini's regime”, referring to the founder of the Islamic Republic, saying the "suffering and humiliation of the Iranian people" should come to an end.

The prince also asserted that the Muslim world stands to support the Iranian people’s cause both 'in heart and soul'.

The Saudi prince and diplomat, who was among the event’s main speakers, said he held the current regime responsible for ongoing tensions between Iran and Arab states, as a result of intervening in their own internal affairs.

And as he recalled the history of various Iranian regimes, he noted the reasons why Iran had been isolated. He criticized Khomeini’s “isolationist and interventionist foreign policy,” saying it had deepened the gap among the Islamic world.